Executive Summary:
With Vivi’s wireless screen mirroring, digital signage, and emergency alerts, Hunter Valley Grammar School has increased teacher mobility, increased campus-wide communication, and improved safety measures.
Background
Hunter Valley Grammar School (HVGS) has always embraced technology to enhance learning. They built a learning environment where tech is woven into every classroom, from providing iPads for younger students to instituting a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program for older learners. However, HVGS recognized the need for a comprehensive solution that could not only connect classrooms but also streamline communication, enhance safety, and create a more engaging experience for the entire school community. This led them to Vivi.
Challenge
Before Vivi, technology at HVGS presented some key challenges, hindering their efforts to create a dynamic and engaging learning environment.
- Limited teacher mobility: In classrooms, the ubiquitous HDMI cable, while reliable, tethered teachers to the front of the room when using their laptop to deliver a lesson. This limited their mobility and interaction with students. This physical constraint hampered the dynamic, engaging lessons HVGS valued.
- Complicated digital signage: Their custom-built Raspberry Pi digital signage system, though technically impressive, proved complicated to manage. Updating content was a bottleneck, requiring constant IT intervention. “We would often have to get involved for even minor changes ” explains Adam Bird, Director of ICT, highlighting the system’s inflexibility and the strain on the team.
- Inconsistent emergency alerts: Relying solely on audio alerts created confusion, especially with different tones for different procedures. “Which one is it?” became a common question during drills, revealing the need for a clearer, more visual system.
HVGS recognized the need for a solution that could address these challenges —empowering teachers, streamlining communications, and enhancing safety.
Solution
Vivi provided the comprehensive solution HVGS needed, directly addressing their technology challenges with a suite of features that transformed their use of technology:
- Wireless screen mirroring: Vivi untethered teachers from HDMI cables, allowing them to move freely and engage more directly with students. “It frees up teachers from being tied to the front of the room,” says Bird, highlighting the increased flexibility.
- Manageable digital signage: Vivi enabled departments to control their own content, streamlining communication and freeing up the IT team. “I can decentralize that management,” notes Bird, emphasizing the efficiency gains. This system allowed for a vibrant hub of information, sharing everything from lunch specials to student achievements.
- Improved emergency communication: Vivi’s emergency alerts provided clear visual instructions alongside audio alarms, ensuring a swift, coordinated response during drills and real emergencies. During a recent storm, the school used Vivi to display a simple actionable message: “Don’t go to your next class. Stay where you are. There’s a big storm approaching.”
Outcome
The impact of Vivi at HVGS has extended far beyond the classroom, transforming the school into a more connected and engaged community.
- Enhanced communication: The digital signage system, powered by Vivi’s role-based access capabilities, has improved school-wide communication. By enabling staff and students to manage content without relying solely on IT, it supports a more dynamic flow of information. From important announcements to showcasing student achievements and promoting upcoming events, the signage keeps everyone informed and connected, helping to build a stronger sense of community. “Students are very engaged by it,” notes Bird.
- Building community: Beyond communication, Vivi has seamlessly connected performance spaces with classrooms, allowing the school to live stream events to students, even when they are not actively participating. “Students can watch the performance from the green rooms even when they’re not on stage,” explains Bird, “It makes them feel more connected to the event.”
With Vivi, HVGS has made the school experience richer and more dynamic for everyone. The ability to easily manage and distribute information through digital signage, combined with the ability to live stream events, has created a more unified and engaging school environment.
Continuing innovation: The future with Vivi
HVGS continues to explore Vivi’s potential, envisioning innovative applications beyond its current use. “We’re looking at replacing our traditional honor boards with digital ones,” says Bird, highlighting their plans to update displays and further integrate Vivi into the school. Beyond honor boards, they are eager to explore expanded use of multi-screen mirroring for collaborative projects.
Reflecting on the value Vivi brings, Bird notes, “Vivi offers so much more than just sharing a screen.” The subscription model has proven a smart investment, offering features at a predictable cost. It was also comparable in price to earlier solutions while offering significantly more functionality, strengthening the platform’s value proposition for HVGS.
By embracing this technology, HVGS is continuing its tradition of innovation, and the team is excited to see what else it will add in their future.
